Cycle the Baltics

Introducing the hottest destination in European cycling – the Baltic States

Diverse, richly historic and impossibly photogenic, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have few rivals when it comes to cycling in Europe. This region offers up one fairytale-like scene after the next. Discover a charming cultural tapestry – from the medieval spires of Tallinn and the funky bars of Riga to the Baroque-styled quirks of Vilnius. Throw in some sand dunes, bird-filled forests, glittering lakes and world-class beaches and you might just have the perfect cycling destination.

Stay in a quaint farmhouse for a first-hand experience of Estonian country life

Wander the endless dunes and stunning beaches of Lithuania's Curonian Spit National Park

Is this trip right for you?

As there are potholes and cobblestones in many European cities, it's recommended that you leave any wheelie bags or cases at home and bring a backpack instead.

The areas visited on this trip can be very cold at night throughout the year, especially at the start and beginning of the season. Please bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions, including base layers, hat, gloves, scarf, coat and anything else that you think may be applicable.

As accommodation on this trip is multi-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. However, if you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge. Please ask your travel consultant for more details. Also, hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart.

This trip is designed to give you a fair amount of free time so you can explore each destination at your own pace. We will, however, take you on regular orientation walks, so you'll be on your feet quite a lot. While this may be tiring for some, it’s the best way to get your head around a place and to set yourself up for further discoveries.

This trip involves some long journeys by vehicle (sometimes up to 9 hours). Although this can be a bit tiresome, it's a great way to sit back, relax and take in the passing scenery.

This trip involves a number of vehicle transfers and frequent loading of both luggage and bikes into the support van and trailer. To make this process as quick as possible travellers are expected to assist in loading their bags and bikes.

To complete this trip it is also important that you are both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.

Gallery

Itinerary

Tere! Welcome to Tallinn. Your cycling adventure begins today with a welcome meeting at 6pm. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where the meeting will take place. Your leader will be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have these ready. If you arrive in the city early, grab a city map and head out to explore Tallinn’s medieval old town. With its steep red roofs, spires, pastel-coloured buildings and new restaurants and bars, Estonia's capital will entertain even the most demanding!

Cycle distance: none

This trip involves a number of vehicle transfers and frequent loading of both luggage and bikes into the support van and trailer. To make this process as quick as possible travellers are expected to assist in loading their bags and bikes.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

After breakfast there will be a bike fitting for the group, followed by a short test ride. Drive out of the city towards the port town of Virstu (approximately 2 hours), passing by lush farmland and forests. After crossing over by ferry to the island of Muhu, jump on your bicycle and explore this idyllic Estonian countryside at a close. Stop at the Muhu village museum in Koguva, a remarkable example of Estonian countryside architecture, to learn more about how the local people lived in the past. Then continue along Route 10 which connects Muhu and Saarema islands. The road literally cuts through the Baltic Sea, so take in views of the water on both sides as you go. Tonight, stay in a farmhouse where your hosts treat you to a delicious local dinner.

Total cycling distance: approximately 55 km/34 miles

Meals Included

Cycle to Kuresaare today (40 km, 2.5 hours). Kuresaare is Saarema’s largest town, boasting an impressive castle built by the knights of the Teutonic order in the 14th century. It's also known for its numerous spas. Cycle around the Lossipark, take a stroll down the main street, or sit down for lunch in one of the local restaurants to watch people pass by. On the way back to your farmstay, stop at the Kaali craters. There are numerous legends related to the site, and evidence of it being used for ritual sacrifice. The craters are estimated to be 4000–6000 years old, and the impact with which the meteor hit the ground to form the craters is comparable to the Hiroshima bomb.

Total cycling distance: approximately 80km/50 miles

Meals Included

Drive back to the mainland of Estonia today. Swap the car seat for your bike near the village of Natsi, the gateway to the Natsi-Volla Nature Reserve. This area is the largest bog area in southern Estonia and a birders’ paradise. On arrival in Parnu, head out for an orientation walk with your tour leader. Spend the remaining part of the day exploring Parnu at your leisure.

Total cycling distance: approximately 40 km / 25 miles

Meals Included

Today will be a long but very pleasant cycling day. Take the road that goes along the coast of the Baltic sea and cycle your way down to Latvia. The first village across the border – Ainazi – is your home for the night. If you still have power in your legs, take a stroll on the beach in the evening, or head out to dinner with the group to get your first taste of Latvian cuisine.

Total cycling distance: approximately 70 km / 44 miles

Meals Included

Continue your ride along the Latvian coast, past the town of Salacgriva. After approximately 50 kilometres, board your support vehicle and follow the main road towards Riga. On arrival in the city centre, your leader will take you on an orientation ride past the Central Market, St Peter's Basilica, House of the Blackheads, the Swedish Gate or the Cat House.

Total cycling distance: approximately 50 km / 31 miles

Meals Included

Cycle to the resort town of Jurmala today, a popular holiday destination for Latvians, 33-kilometre stretch of a white sand beach. Come back to Riga in the afternoon and enjoy the city at your leisure.

Total cycling distance: approximately 40 km / 25 miles

Meals Included

Drive out from Riga towards Lithuania. Just past the Lithuanian town of Joniskis, get on your bike and cycle through the pretty Lithuanian countryside. Stop at the famous Hill of Crosses (approximately 35 km) – a quaint pilgrimage site, the origins of which remain a mystery. Afterwards, board your support vehicle and continue your journey to the former Prussian city of Klaipeda. Klaipeda used to be a member of the Hanseatic League and is the gateway to the Curonian Spit – a long and narrow sand dune peninsula separating the Curonian lagoon from the Baltic Sea.

Total cycling distance: approximately 35 km / 22 miles

Meals Included

Spend the day exploring the unique World Heritage-listed Curonian Spit National Park by bike. This is a spectacular landscape full of beaches, sand dunes and forested areas. The peninsula is only 400 m wide in parts but 98 km long, 52 of which belong to Lithuania, while the rest is part of the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. It formed only 5000 years ago by strong winds and currents which constantly change the shape of the landscape to this day. Only recently a whole village was swallowed by the inexorable sand. On your day trip, explore the tiny village of Nida and the surrounding beaches by bike. Look in the distance to see the Russian border. For lunch, perhaps try the smoked pike for which the Spit is famous. Return to Klaipeda in the evening in the support vehicle.

Total cycling distance: approximately 50km / 31 miles

Meals Included

Board the support vehicle in the morning and drive to Trakai, the former capital of Lithuania guarded by an impressive 14th century castle. After paying a brief visit, continue on a bicycle to Vilnius (30 km). On arrival, your leader takes you for an orientation tour that covers the old town’s highlights as well as the self-proclaimed artistic 'republic' of Uzupis, an inner-city quarter that declared symbolic independence from Lithuania in 1997.

Total cycling distance: approximately 35–40 km / 22-25 miles (including the orientation in Vilnius)

Optional Activities

Urban Adventures - Flavours of Vilnius - EUR82

Meals Included

Your cycling trip comes to an end after breakfast today. There are no more activities planned and you're able to depart the accommodation at any time. There are multiple sights and attractions to visit during your stay in Vilnius, so it may be worth booking an extra day or two so you can fit it all in. Our reservations team will be happy to help (subject to availability).

Total cycling distance: none

Meals Included

Breakfast

Inclusions

Meals

10 breakfasts,
1 dinner

Transport

Bicycle,
Support vehicle,
Ferry

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights),
Guesthouse (2 nights)

Meals

10 breakfasts,
1 dinner

Transport

Bicycle,
Support vehicle,
Ferry

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights),
Guesthouse (2 nights)

Dates & availability

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Important notes

A single supplement is available on this trip, please see trip notes for details.
This trip involves a number of vehicle transfers and frequent loading of both luggage and bikes into the support van and trailer. To make this process as quick as possible travellers are expected to assist in loading their bags and bikes.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.